China: Uighurs

(asked on 21st June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the credibility of new evidence submitted to the International Criminal Court in June regarding alleged forced deportations of Uyghurs to China from other countries; and what plans they have to publicly oppose the deportation of Uyghurs to China from (1) Turkey, (2) Kazakhstan, (3) Tajikistan, and (4) other states.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 5th July 2021

The UK continues to take a global leadership role in standing up for the rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. We have repeatedly called on countries to respect their obligations not to force persons to return to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of fundamental rights violations.

British diplomats - working closely with likeminded partners - have intervened privately at senior levels with host governments on behalf of Uyghurs who have been at risk of refoulement to China. We also encourage all states, including Turkey, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, to uphold their international human rights obligations.

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